Newsletter of the
College of Education and
Behavioral Sciences
Spring 2011
WKU International Student Teaching Continues to Grow
Two students represented Western
Kentucky University in an international
student teaching placement in Belize
only three years ago. During the
current school year, thirty-three WKU
student teachers are representing the
College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences in an international student
teaching placement in Germany, Spain,
and Ecuador. We received fifty-two
requests for an international student
teaching assignment for the spring
2011 semester alone. Demand for this
exciting and challenging opportunity
continues to grow.
While the student numbers are
increasing, numbers of actual locations
and contractual agreements continue
to expand as well. In addition to
existing contractual agreements and
actual student placements in locations
such as Quito, Ecuador, Belize;
Barcelona, Spain; and Berlin, Germany,
we recently completed a draft
agreement with Linkoping University
in Sweden through which we expect to
place WKU student teachers beginning
with the fall 2011 semester. We are also
working furiously to develop continued
opportunities for our students in other
countries including Japan, China, Great
Britain, and Costa Rica.
One unfortunate side effect of
the current recession is the cut back
WKU international student teachers Katie Ray, Daily Browning, and
Molly Clark visiting Father Benjamin (holding the Red Towel) and a
fellow priest at the Vatican in Italy
in hiring of all employees including
educators. In fact, one slightly
disturbing national statistic from the US
Labor Bureau recently indicated that
only twenty percent of those education
graduates throughout the US from
the 2009-10 school year actually were
employed as teachers at the beginning
of the 2010-2011 school year. Among
WKU graduates, those numbers were
a little more positive. Kentucky’s
Education Professional Standards
Board statistics showed that, during
this same period of time, WKU students
were employed at a three to one
rate when compared to the national
employment situation. In other words,
almost sixty percent of WKU teacher
education graduates were employed
during the past year as teachers.
To carry this statistical comparison
even further, a phenomenal one
hundred percent of WKU student
teachers with international student
teaching experience have been hired
as classroom teachers upon their
completion of the certification process.
In summary, based upon the
employment success rate, the high
interest rate among our students,
and the wonderful opportunities to
travel and to experience other cultures
and customs, Teacher Services will
continue to facilitate a wide variety
of international student teaching
opportunities for our teacher education
students. Only two years ago, a goal
was established of encouraging ten
percent of our student teachers to
participate in such an international
student teaching experience. That
goal has already been surpassed
during the current school year, and
even higher internationalization
goals will be established in the future.
These international student teaching
programs offered by CEBS provide
measurable support to the vision
for WKU to be “A Leading American
University with International Reach.”
Greetings from the Dean
This has been a very exciting year, and
with the opening of Gary A. Ransdell Hall
(GRH) on January 24th, we began a new era
in the College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences. For most faculty, staff, and students,
the opportunity to move into a facility
specifically designed for the instruction and
learning that will take place is a once-ina-lifetime experience. The facility in which
learning occurs truly makes a difference. The
excitement is high and we are poised for new
opportunities. The official dedication of Gary
A. Ransdell Hall will be April 29th, 2:00pm.
Our mission is “Empowering individuals
to lead and serve our dynamic world”, and
we continue to provide learning experiences
to broaden the perspective of our graduates
as they prepare to positively impact those
with whom they work. Faculty members
in the Department of Psychology have a
number of new laboratories where students
will be engaged in a variety of research
studies focusing on human behavior at
the local, state, national, and international
levels. This semester, 23 student teachers
will be spending four weeks in school
settings in Spain, Germany, or Ecuador.
These experiences are life changing and help
prepare participants to engage in a work
setting that is becoming increasingly diverse.
We are continuing to identify new study
abroad sites and are currently exploring
several opportunities associated with
Harlaxton College in Grantham, Lincolnshire,
England, and are working with the Confucius
Institute to provide additional teachers of
Chinese for Kentucky’s schools. International
opportunities for students and faculty will
continue to grow and will be enhanced
with the relocation of the World Council for
Gifted and Talented Children from Winnipeg,
Canada, to WKU’s Gary A. Ransdell Hall.
With the arrival of new members of the
administrative team at the university level,
new ideas and opportunities will enhance
our current work as well as foster our
engagement with new initiatives. This past
fall, we began implementing a graduatelevel residency program in science and
mathematics education in the Jefferson
County Public Schools, and we will continue
this initiative throughout the next academic
year. Numerous graduate programs have
been redesigned, with the master’s programs
in teacher education leading to the teacher
leader endorsement being offered for the
first time Winter Term 2011. The redesigned
principal preparation program has received
state approval and will be officially
implemented Fall Semester 2011. Program
faculty in the Department of Counseling
and Student Affairs have revised the School
Gary A. Ransdell Hall (February, 2011)
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Counseling program with a goal of having
all programs accredited by the Council for
Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Educational Programs (CACREP).
This spring all of our professional
Tate Page Hall (opened in 1971)
education programs will participate in an
on-site review as part of our continuing
accreditation by the National Council for
the Accreditation of Teacher Education and
Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards
Board. Our graduates continue to be highly
productive in their chosen careers, and
their success is due in large part to the
partnerships established in area schools and
their respective teachers and administrators.
The initial and continuing education of
practitioners will be more clinical-based, and
the strong partnerships with area schools are
critical to the success of these programs.
Our programs are strong, and our
students continue to excel, as is evident from
the fact that our Reserve Officer Training
Corps received the MacArthur Award for
the outstanding program in the U.S. Army’s
Cadet Command’s 7th Brigade, consisting of
43 programs. Upon their commissioning, our
cadets continue to distinguish themselves in
service to their country. Beginning this year,
cadets can major in Military Leadership, one
of three such programs in the United States.
It is an exciting time to be in the College
of Education and Behavioral Sciences. We
are fortunate to have highly motivated
faculty and students, and our programs are
continuing to grow. I encourage you to visit
our new facility to continue to support those
programs that have served as the foundation
for your professional careers and growth.
Toyota USA Foundation
Awards $500,000 to WKU
Grant will Support Math and Technology Leadership Academy
Western Kentucky University
has been named the recipient
of a nationally competitive
$500,000 grant from the Toyota
USA Foundation.
According to Dr. Sam
Evans, Dean of WKU’s College
of Education and Behavioral
Sciences, the grant, to be
awarded over three years, will
help fund WKU’s Math and
Technology Leadership Academy
(MTLA). The academy’s aim is
to increase K-5 student interest
and achievement in math and
technology among high risk
youth in the Bowling Green
Enterprise Community, as well
as other areas of Warren County.
“With a focus on student learning, this
initiative will provide opportunities for
educators to enhance their knowledge
and skills relative to mathematics
and technology as they develop and
implement learning experiences
for elementary age students in an
environment that not only promotes
student success but also prepares
students for success in middle and high
school settings and fosters interest
in possible careers in these areas,”
Dr. Evans said.
WKU will develop the MTLA by
providing intense math and technology
professional development to educators
in order to strengthen their own skills,
develop a national model for teacher
preparedness and, in turn, increase
student achievement in these areas.
Professors from WKU’s Ogden College
of Science and Engineering, College of
Education and Behavioral Sciences, and
The Center for Gifted Studies will partner
Dr. Sam Evans, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences,
Jim Wiseman of Toyota and WKU President Gary Ransdell
with representatives from Bowling Green
Independent Schools, Warren County
Public Schools and the Housing Authority
of Bowling Green to develop unique,
challenging experiences for the MTLA
teachers and the students they serve. In
addition, the MTLA will aim to increase
the number of diverse students qualifying
for advanced math opportunities while
encouraging family involvement through
Math and Technology Community School
events.
“We are very grateful for the
generosity of the Toyota USA
Foundation,” said WKU President Gary
Ransdell. “Thanks to their support,
WKU and its partners can move
ahead in their efforts to make
MTLA a reality. By increasing the
effectiveness of teacher leaders,
we believe we can better engage
young students and introduce
them to new opportunities in math
and technology. At the outset,
a total of 18 schools and nearly
9,000 students stand to benefit. But
over the long term, we believe the
positive impact for families and
communities will be far greater.”
“We’re proud to support
WKU’s Math and Technology
Leadership Academy and
strongly believe in its mission
to engage and increase achievement
among young students in high-risk,
diverse communities by developing
teachers’ skills and experiences,” said
Jim Wiseman, Group Vice President of
Corporate Communications and Chief
Communications Officer of Toyota Motor
North America. “We are highly confident
that the University’s partnership with
area educators, school districts and the
Housing Authority of Bowling Green will
yield great results not just in Western
Kentucky, but ultimately in communities
across the country.”
ABOUT THE TOYOTA USA FOUNDATION
The Toyota USA Foundation is a $100 million charitable endowment created to
support education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade students and
their teachers in the United States, with an emphasis on mathematics, science and
environmental science. For additional information about the Toyota USA Foundation,
visit www.toyota.com/foundation.
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Educational
Leadership Program
Selects Sixth Cohort of
Students for Doctorate
Ms. Leonie Kronberg, University Lecturer in Gifted Education, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Ms. Edna McMillan, Vice President of
the World Council, of Stoney Creek, Ontario; Dr. Julia Roberts; Ms. Dixie Mahurin; Mr. Pete Mahurin; Dr. Gary Ransdell; Mr. Carol Martin Gatton
A Gift from the Mahurin Family Brings the
Headquarters of the World Council to WKU
A press conference on November
16 announced the relocation of the
headquarters of the World Council
for Gifted and Talented Children from
the University of Winnipeg to WKU.
Dr. Leonie Kronborg, Australia, and
Dr. Edna McMillan, Canada, were present
for the announcement, as was Dr. Ken
McKluskey, Dean of the College of
Education at the University of Winnipeg.
The move of the headquarters of the
World Council to WKU was made possible
by a generous gift from the Mahurin
family. Pete and Dixie Mahurin have been
friends of The Center for Gifted Studies
since their daughter Sarah Jo came to the
Summer Camp for Academically Talented
Middle School Students (SCATS) and later
the Summer Program for Mathematically
and Verbally Precocious Youth (VAMPY)
during her middle and high school
summers. Pete serves as a member of
The Center’s Advisory Board and has
done so since the first Advisory Board
was named in 2001. The Mahurin family
endowed the professorship in gifted
studies in 2003.
Dr. Julia Roberts, Mahurin Professor of
Gifted Studies, is one of seven members
of the Executive Committee and Treasurer
of the World Council. Dr. Roberts is
the Executive Director of The Center
for Gifted Studies and the Carol Martin
Gatton Academy of Mathematics and
Science in Kentucky. She has been an
active member of the World Council for
twenty years.
Dr. Roberts remarked, “The relocation
of the headquarters of The World Council
to WKU helps The Center for Gifted
Studies realize its vision of becoming
a preeminent international center.
Welcoming the headquarters of the World
Council to WKU is a wonderful way to
begin the 30th year for The Center for
Gifted Studies.”
Dr. Julia Roberts thanked Pete and
Dixie Mahurin for their gift that made the
relocation of the World Council for Gifted
and Talented Children possible. The
group’s international headquarters will be
located at WKU.
4
Western Kentucky University’s Doctor
of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational
Leadership has selected its sixth cohort of
students.
The sixth cohort includes Rhonda
Callaway of Sturgis, KY; Michael Hamilton
of Cross Plains,TN; Terence Hayes of
Hopkinsville, KY; Lynn Hines of Bowling
Green, KY; Stephen Holloman of Elkton,
KY; Chunling Niu of Chongqing City,
China; Mildred Ortiz of Bowling Green,
KY; Michelle Patrick of Louisville, KY;
Nathan Phelps of Bowling Green,
KY; Kristina Rice of Greenville, KY;
Nadia Sautu of Bowling Green, KY;
Kristina Sidebottom of Horse Cave, KY;
Meredith Skaggs of Owensboro, KY; and
Andrew Wollin of Bowling Green, KY.
Congratulations and welcome to the
doctoral family.
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in
Educational Leadership, WKU’s first
independent doctoral degree program,
was approved in February 2008 by the
Council on Postsecondary Education.
WKU admitted its first cohort of students
in July 2008 and its second cohort in
January 2009. WKU’s interdisciplinary
program develops “practitioner scholars”
in four specialty areas – Administrative
Leaders, Teacher Leaders, Postsecondary
Leaders, and Organizational Leaders –
equipped to assume leadership roles in
the multiple venues where education
takes place and to work with educational
partners to improve academic
performance and increase learning at all
levels.
Using blended delivery methods,
including traditional face-to-face
classroom settings, distance-learning
formats, online platforms, and on-site
practicum settings, the WKU program
makes it possible for students to remain
in their current professional positions
while completing the doctoral degree.
WKU Receives Grant to Develop Green
Infrastructure at Habitat Community
The “greening” of Bowling Green
will continue with state funding that
will initiate a long-planned Habitat for
Humanity green housing community.
WKU has received a $655,000 grant from
the Kentucky Division of Water to create
an integrated green infrastructure at a 16acre site owned by Habitat for Humanity
called Durbin Estates located just off Glen
Lily Road.
WKU will work with the local and
state Habitat for Humanity and several
partners to demonstrate low impact
development (LID) techniques including
use of natural ecosystem services, and
to provide education and training to
professionals and the public on ways to
reduce nonpoint source pollution and
improve quality of life for communities.
Under Section 319 of the Clean Water
Act, states receive funding to support
nonpoint source management (NPS)
programs. NPS is water pollution that
affects bodies of water from diffuse
sources including stormwater runoff,
drainage or seepage from agricultural
and urban areas. It is the leading cause
of water pollution in the United States
today; and because it comes from diffuse
sources, it is difficult to manage.
“This project is very unique to Bowling
Green, Kentucky, and the United States
in terms of green infrastructure,” said
Dr. Terry Wilson, director of WKU’s
Center for Environmental Education
and Sustainability. Over the next few
years, the 16-acre site will include up to
50 housing units, a community center,
outdoor amphitheater, walking trails,
community gardens, rain gardens, edible
landscaping, native species plantings and
increased tree cover.
“The project will address quality
of environment and economic issues
as well as have a positive impact on
carbon emissions and the larger concern
of global climate change,” said Nancy
Givens, WKU Sustainability Programs
Development Coordinator and author of
the grant. Mechanisms to be included in
the infrastructure design and examples
of LID techniques include use of
modified drainage channels and pervious
pavement to reduce stormwater runoff;
cisterns, rain barrels and irrigation piping
to collect and recycle rainwater; rain
gardens and landscaping to slow water
flow and improve natural absorption and
filtration; and drought tolerant native
plants and organic treatment methods to
reduce chemical use and irrigation needs
and also beautify the site.
“Habitat for Humanity is very excited
about the impact this project will have
on our local affiliate, the families we
serve, and the broader Bowling Green
community,” said Rodney Goodman,
Executive Director for the Bowling Green
Warren County HFH office. “This is a
wonderful opportunity to work with WKU
and a broad collaboration of community
partners to create a community that will
model for us a better way to live.”
The key partners for the project are
WKU and the state and local Habitat
for Humanity affiliates. Other partners
include WKYU-PBS (which will produce a
30-minute documentary on the project),
Bowling Green mayor’s office and
Department of Public Works, Bowling
Green City Schools, BGGreen Partnership
for a Sustainable Community, and
Bluegrass PRIDE. Dale Reynolds, the
regional representative of the Kentucky
Division of Water, has provided great
encouragement and support to the
project.
WKU students from various
departments and academic programs
will have opportunities to participate
in the design, testing and development
of the green infrastructure as well as
the education and outreach efforts.
Area schools will be invited to bring
school groups to the site for education.
Community organizations, individuals,
and residents will also have volunteer
opportunities to be involved.
Child Care Centers Receive National
Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAYCE) Accreditation
WKU Child Care Centers received the National Association for the Education
of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation. NAEYC accreditation is strictly for early
childhood programs across the country. In order to become accredited centers
must go through a lengthy accreditation process culminating in a visit from an
accreditation team of early childhood experts who reviewed the overall program
before validating the accreditation.
5
Kelly Autism Program Presents Awards
The Kelly Autism Program at WKU
presented the 2010 Alliance Awards
October 19, 2010, at Downing University
Center’s Cupola Room. The Kelly Autism
Program, part of the Suzanne Vitale
Clinical Education Complex at WKU,
serves individuals from age seven
through adulthood diagnosed in the
Autism Spectrum Disorder Continuum.
The Alliance Award Ceremony
recognizes individuals making significant
contributions to KAP’s journey toward
national recognition. The Alliance
Award is presented to leaders in the
business community who have actively
participated in the KAP transition to
work program. This program is critical in
helping participants become independent
and productive members in the
community.
The recipients of the 2010 Alliance
Awards are: Bowling Green Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bowling
Green Hot Rods, Bowling Green Parks
and Recreation, Bowling Green-Warren
County Humane Society, Community
Action of Southern Kentucky, Helping
Hands, Home Towne Suites, Houchens,
Kiwanis, Modern Woodmen of America,
New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding,
Operation Pride, Salvation Army, St.
Vincent DePaul Society, State Beauty
Supply, The Center for Gifted Studies,
Thompson’s Trophy Center, and Warren
County Public Library.
Recipients of the Friends of KAP
Awards are: Lou-Ann Sanford, Tim
Murley, Joanie Hendricks, Joe Tinius,
Leslie Peek, Anna Clardy, Stacy Faulkner,
Mr. and Mrs. Rob Creek, Leo Govoni, Jerry
Vincent, Michael Dale Augenstein.
Recipients of WKU Special Awards,
presented to faculty and staff who have
gone above and beyond to support
KAP participants, are: Marya Waters,
Department of English; Scott Dobler,
Department of Geography and Geology;
Joy Curtis, Department of Mathematics
and Computer Science; John Spraker,
Department of Mathematics and
Computer Science; Robyn Swanson,
Department of Music; Kerry Northrup,
School of Journalism and Broadcasting;
Christina Kerulis, Students in Free
Enterprise; Michael Kelly, Sigma Alpha
Epsilon; and Jamie Stephens, Special
Instructional Programs.
Recipients of the Altoria Awards,
presented to individuals who have
greatly contributed to KAP with their
time, energy and effort, are: Susan Free,
program manager of KAP-Owensboro,
which is located at the Wendell Foster
Center, and Dylan Beckham and family.
Dylan, a student at Plano Elementary
School, started an anti-bullying effort and
has set a goal of raising $30,000 for the
Kelly Autism Program. He was featured
recently in a CNN report.
Recipients of the Altoria Awards for 2010, presented to individuals who have greatly contributed to the Kelly Autism Program with their time, energy and effort, are: Dylan Beckham and family (left photo)
and Susan Free (right photo). WKU President Gary Ransdell presented the awards Oct. 19 during the Kelly Autism Program’s annual Alliance Awards ceremony.
6
Western Kentucky University’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
(ROTC) Chosen as a Recipient of the Prestigious 2011 MacArthur Awards
Western Kentucky
University’s Army
Reserve Officers’
Training Corps (ROTC)
program was notified
January 26, 2011 of
their selection as
a recipient of the
prestigious 2011
MacArthur Awards.
Each year since 1989
the Norfolk-Virginia
based General Douglas MacArthur
foundation, in conjunction with the
United States Army Cadet Command has
recognized the best of the 272 battalions
in the nation.
This award, based on the ideals of
the late General Douglas MacArthur
“Duty, Honor, Country,” is presented to
individual battalions who excelled during
the previous fiscal year. Criterion includes
performance on the Cadet National
Order of Merit List, Cadet Retention
ratio, quality and performance of military
training and newly commissioned Second
Lieutenants.
“This award came as a pleasant
surprise, but it is a result of years of hard
work from our Cadets, Cadre and staff
here at WKU, as well as at our partner
program at Murray State University,”
said LTC Jason T. Caldwell, WKU Army
ROTC’s Professor of Military Science and
Leadership. LTC Caldwell expressed his
sincere appreciation to his staff, Cadre
and Cadets, as well as to the Faculty and
Administration of WKU for their support
not only to the WKU ROTC program but
to the U.S. Military in general.
“We at WKU ROTC are blessed to
have the support and backing of a very
strong Alumni base. The Faculty and
Administration at WKU are second to
none. Our job is to train leaders, not
just Soldiers but Leaders of Soldiers, an
awesome responsibility and one that we
take with pride and determination. WKU
ROTC is known throughout the Army
as being a top producer of exceptional
officers. Our goal is to not only continue
that tradition but to achieve an even
greater level of excellence.”
In addition to Western Kentucky
University (7th Brigade), the 2011
winners include Texas A & M University
(1st Brigade), St. Johns University (2nd
Brigade), University of Minnesota-Twin
Cities (3rd Brigade), James Madison
University (4th Brigade), Texas Christian
University (5th Brigade), Georgia
Southern University (6th Brigade), and
Pacific Lutheran University (8th Brigade).
Jan Hensley Receives Summit Award for Her
Work on the College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences Advisory Board
Jan Hensley was the recipient of the
2010 Summit Award for her service to
the College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences. As a former educator, Jan
values the role of teachers and school
administrators in challenging and
inspiring the young minds of our
community. Her involvement in the
College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences Advisory Board has assisted
the college in defining its strategic focus
and in connecting with the public school
7
system to a greater degree. Jan is a twotime graduate of WKU and an avid fan of
WKU athletics. She serves as a member of
the WKU Capital Campaign Cabinet, is a
founding member of the WKU Sisterhood
and has been instrumental in the success
of the Mary E. Hensley Lecture Series at
WKU. Jan truly embodies the spirit of the
university and gives freely of her time,
talent and treasure to assist WKU in
becoming A Leading American University
with International Reach.
Faculty & Staff News and Notes
Jill Bryant authored an article entitled “The
effects of an initial CACREP accreditation
on students in program” (in press) in
Spectrum.
Jill Bryant authored article entitled “The
benefits of using art therapy in group
counseling” (in press) in the Tennessee
Counseling Association Journal.
Jill Bryant co-authored with P. Baldwin
“The School counselors’ perceptions
of mandatory reporter training and
mandatory reporting” in the Child Abuse
Review.
Jill Duba co-authored with A. Kindsvatter
and Crissy Priddy (‘07) “Deconstructing the
reflection in the mirror: Narrative therapy
groups for middle-aged women dissatisfied
with their bodies in Adultspan.
Dana Welborn (Mental Health Counseling
Graduate Student), Jill Duba, and Aaron
Kindsvatter (in press) published “REBT
in juvenile detention centers: A group
counseling model” in The Kentucky
Counseling Association Journal.
Katie Hayes (Masters of Family Therapy
Graduate Student) presented “Mindfulness
Based Therapy” at the 2010 Kentucky
Counseling Association Conference in
Louisville, KY.
Cynthia Houston has been appointed to the
Kentucky Textbook Commission.
Amanda Hoskins (Mental Health Counseling
Graduate Student) and Wendy Russell
(Mental Health Counseling Graduate
Student) presented “Power of a shape: An
expressive clay experience with a child” at
the 2010 Kentucky Counseling Association
Conference.
Aaron W. Hughey co-authored “Workplace
Violence: Impact and prevention” (with
Matthew L. Hunt, human resources
director for the Barren River District Health
Department) in the KCA Journal (Kentucky
Counseling Association).
Aaron W. Hughey and Monica G. Burke
co-authored “External confirmation of
adherence to standards: As applicable
to academic programs as to business
and industry” in the Industry and Higher
Education Journal.
Aaron W. Hughey and Monica G. Burke
presented at the Southern Association for
College Student Affairs (SACSA) annual
conference. The title of their presentation
was “Achieving Results without Formal
Authority: Strategies for Student Affairs
Leaders.”
Tracy Ford Inman, along with Jennifer
Jolly, Donald Treffinger, and Joan Franklin
Smutney, co-edited Parenting Gifted
Children: The Authoritative Guide from the
National Association for Gifted Children.
Cynthia Mason authored “An exploration
of the interrelatedness of the functions
of school administrators, school reform
efforts, and school counseling programs”
in the Kentucky Counseling Association
Journal.
Cynthia Mason and Jill Duba co-authored
“Using choice theory principles and
the choice theory career rating scale
to enhance academic achievement for
minority youth” in the International Journal
of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy.
Cynthia Mason served as an Article
Reviewer for the National Association
for Secondary School Principals Bulletin
(NASSP). The title of the publication was
“Making Sense of an Urban District’s
Adolescent Literacy Reform.”
Jill Duba and Dave Gerkin (Mental Health
Counseling Graduate Student) presented
“Reality therapy for unmotivated clients” at
the 2010 Kentucky Counseling Association
Conference in Louisville, KY.
Jill Duba and Dave Gerkin (Mental Health
Counseling Graduate Student) presented
“Fulfilling basic needs to avoid burnout” at
the 2010 Kentucky Counseling Association
Conference in Louisville, KY.
Donald Nims and Jill Duba conducted
the Kentucky Association of Marriage
and Family Therapists (KAMFT) ethics
workshop at the regional meeting for
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
for the fourth year in a row.
Vernon Lee Sheeley presented a program
on “Student Suicide Liability” during the
Kentucky Counseling Association annual
fall conference.
Vernon Lee Sheeley authored “K-12
Schools Facing New Challenges: The
ADAAA” published by the National Career
Development Association.
Christopher Wagner, Department of
Educational Administration, Leadership,
and Research was invited to participate
in a symposium at the University of
Lyon, France in January of 2011. The
symposium, sponsored by the University
of Lyon’s College of Business Management
is an annual affair with approximately
45 researchers to participate. Twentysix countries were represented at the
conference. Wagner presented research on
assessing and improving organizational
culture. Wagner also taught a course on
the same topic.
8
WKU Establishes the
Center for Learning
Excellence
The Western Kentucky University
(WKU) Center for Learning Excellence
(CLE) is a partnership with the Kentucky
Department of Education (KDE) and
identified schools and districts in the
western region (north to Hardin County,
east to Taylor County, and west to Fulton
County) to provide support to P-12
schools in need of improvement and/
or turnaround. The primary service focus
will be schools identified as Tier 1 or 2 for
School Improvement Grant (SIG) purposes
and to other schools in the WKU, Green
River Regional Educational Cooperative
(GRREC), and Western Kentucky
Educational Cooperative (WKEC) service
regions identified as in need of assistance
by the KDE.
The mission of the WKU CLE is to
improve student achievement/learning
by empowering teachers through
enhancement of teachers’ instructional
expertise, professionalism, and
collaboration with other professionals.
Spotlight on One
of Our Graduates:
In Her Own Words
BY DR. ALLISON K. DYRLUND (’04)
I graduated from Western Kentucky University’s Applied
Experimental Psychology program in 2004. In 2008, I completed my
Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Florida State University with
an emphasis in Measurement and Statistics. While I had always wanted
to solely do research for a living, I did not desire the long hours and
pressure that often accompanies a career at a Research 1 university.
While applying for jobs at small comprehensive universities, I came
across an opening for a research psychologist position with the Army.
The opportunity to work with an elite and inspiring population such
as United States Soldiers immediately appealed to me. I initially took a
position at the Center for Army Leadership at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, but
after two years I had the opportunity to advance my career at the U.S.
Army Research Institute at Ft. Hood, TX.
Even though my position required a Ph.D., it was my Masters in
Experimental Psychology from Western that ultimately secured the
position for me. The strong background in research design and methods
I built at Western, as well as the research opportunities I received from
Dr. Steven Wininger, made me an extremely marketable and desirable
candidate. Furthermore, it is that skill set that has stuck with me and
consistently contributed to my career success.
The focus of my research at ARI is on individual, team, and collective
training in the operational Army environment. As a researcher at an
ARI unit located on a U.S. Army Forces Command installation, I have
the opportunity to operate with units; observing training events,
after action reviews, staff calls, and other meetings to facilitate the
identification of training issues affecting units and to determine which
topics are appropriate for ARI research.
Projects I am involved with span topics such as video-based training
of expert knowledge, decision-making under physical stress, and junior
leader training development. At the daily level I spend a great deal
of time designing and writing research proposal requests as well as
overseeing contracts that produce research and research products for
the Army. In addition, I conduct in-house research projects for which I
have partnered with other Department of the Defense organizations.
Both positions I have had with the Army have allowed me to travel
extensively for data collection, collaboration, and self-development. In
the last two years alone, I have had the opportunity to travel to Kansas,
Texas, New York, Louisiana, Washington, DC, and Germany.
My work with the Army is inherently rewarding in that I get to
conduct research that has the ability to benefit Soldiers by improving
combat effectiveness through development of innovative training
methodologies. It’s an incredible population to work with and I hope to
do so until the day I retire.
Monroe County High School Students
Visit Gary A. Ransdell Hall
Visiting the School of Teacher Education on January 25, 2011
were 18 Monroe County High School students and their teachers Ms.
Kelli Dickson and Ms. Robin Hagan. The students expressed interest
in a career in education, thus prompting their teachers to coordinate
a visit to the new College of Education and Behavioral Science
Building, Gary A. Ransdell Hall. A variety of WKU faculty, staff, and
students greeted the guests and presented information about college
preparation, pre-service teacher opportunities, what it is like to be an
education student, and careers in education. Upon conclusion of the
informational session, the students toured the newly opened building
and were able to preview the building’s special features.
Presenters included Sam Evans, College of Education and
Behavioral Science Dean; Dr. Retta Poe, Associate Dean of Academic
Programs; Mr. Dale Brown, Interim Associate Vice President for
Enrollment Management; Dr. Lisa Murley, Assistant Professor, School
of Teacher Education; Dr. Roxanne Spencer, Education Resource
Center; Ms. Jasmine Clark, WKU Future Educators Association;
and Ms. Daily Browning, WKU 2010 graduate, Bachelor of Science
Elementary Education.
9
Student, Faculty, Alumni Awards
S. Kay Gandy, School of Teacher
Education, Darrell Kruge, Amber Bechard,
Randy Brown, and Diane Williams were
selected by the National Council for
Geographic Education (NCGE) to receive
the Best College/University article
published in the Journal of Geography
in 2009 award for their article Writing
a Successful Fulbright Group Projects
Abroad Grant: Voices from a Journey to
South Africa. The award was given at the
2010 National Council for Geographic
Education meeting. The Journal of
Geography provides a forum for
educators and scholars to present results
from teaching and research that advance
understanding and practice of geographic
education from pre-kindergarten through
post-graduate levels. NCGE is a nonprofit organization, chartered in 1915
to enhance the status and quality of
geography teaching and learning.
Farley Norman, Psychology, received the
2010 College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences Research and Creativity Award.
This award is given for outstanding
contributions in a field of specialty.
Paul Mullins (’94 & ’99), principal of
LaRue County High School, has been
named the school-level Administrator of
the Year by the Kentucky Association of
School Administrators (KASA). Mullins
is entering his sixth year as principal at
LaRue County. The Administrator of the
Year winner is selected by a Kentucky
Association of School Administrators
awards committee.
Shana Pack, Psychology, received the
2010 College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences Public Service Award. This
award is given for distinguished activity
in public service.
Marge Maxwell, School of Teacher
Education, received the 2010 College
of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Student Advisement Award. This award
recognizes excellence in advising as
evidenced by extensive and effective
support of student development in school
and broader life contexts.
Julia Link Roberts, Center for Gifted
Studies, was elected Vice President of
The Association for the Gifted (TAG), an
affiliate of the WKU Clinical Education
Complex.
In Memoriam
1LT Eric D. Yates 1984-2010
WKU ROTC Class of 2008
1LT Eric D. Yates, an officer with the 101st Airborne
Division, B Company, 1st Battalion/502 Infantry, was
killed in action supporting Operation Enduring Freedom
in Afghanistan recently. 1LT Yates was a December 2008
graduate of Western Kentucky University. He was a
double major in Social Studies and History and received
his commission through WKU’s Reserve Officers’ Training
Program (ROTC). 1LT Yates was from Rineyville, Kentucky.
He is survived by his parents David and Kathy Yates.
10
Betsy Shoenfelt, Psychology, received the
2010 College of Education and Behavioral
Sciences Teaching Award. This award
is given in recognition of excellence as
evidenced by effectiveness and ability to
motivate and inspire students within and
outside the classroom.
Dr. Christopher Wagner, Department of
Educational Administration, Leadership,
and Research, was awarded the
William T. Nallia Award by the Kentucky
Association of School Administrators
(KASA). This recognition is awarded
annually to an education leader “who
reflects a spirit of innovation and cutting
edge leadership while bringing higher
levels of success and learning to all
children.” Dr. Wagner is the Co-Director
of the Center for Improving School
Culture and has made presentations and
conducted workshops all over the country
on the topic of improving school cultures.
Joseph P. Cangemi Award for
Excellence in Leadership in
Psychology/Education Recipient
Pam Petty, School of Teacher Education,
was the recipient of the 2010 Joseph
P. Cangemi Award for Excellence in
Leadership in Psychology/Education.
This award was established to recognize
personnel in the College of Education
and Behavioral Sciences who have made
broad applied contributions to their
professional field. The award is based on
successfully working with organizations
both within and outside the University;
having displayed excellence in writing;
having generated creative, applied
contributions; and having worked with
diverse populations either within the
United States or abroad.
New Faculty
Educational Administration,
Leadership and Research
religion, psychology of sexuality, and the
physiological psychology. She will be
teaching at the WKU Glasgow Campus.
and graduate levels, and served as
the Executive Director for a non-profit
therapeutic equestrian organization.
from the University of Louisville and
formerly served as the Teacher Quality
Coordinator, Simpson County Schools.
He was named the 2007 Principal of the
Year and received the Dean’s Citation for
Outstanding Dissertation.
Gordon Baylis is a Professor of
Rachel Leer received her B.S.in
Psychology who is serving as the Vice
President for Research and President
of the WKU Research Foundation. He
has a Doctorate of Philosophy from the
University of Oxford.
Matthew Basham earned his Ph.D. from
Courtney Ortz earned her M.A. in
the University of Florida. He was a 2007
nominee for the Dissertation of the Year
Award by the Council for the Study of
Community Colleges.
Experimental Psychology, and her
research interests include decision
making in older adults.
Exceptional Education, Learning and
Behavior Disabilities and her MAE in
Literacy from WKU. She has worked as a
tutor preparing individuals for the reading
comprehension portions of standardized
tests and as a special education teacher
as well as a reading teacher at Logan
County High School.
Gary Houchens earned his Ph.D.
Jie Zhang received her Ph.D. in
Educational Psychology from the
University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign and her M.S. in Statistics from
Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Her dissertation title was Improving
English Language Learners’ Oral and
Written Language through Collaborative
Discussions.
Counseling and Student Affairs
Bill Kline earned his Ph.D. from the
University of Michigan and will serve
as the new department head for the
Department of Counseling and Student
Affairs. He is a member of the Editorial
Board for the Journal for Specialists
in Group Work and is also a CACREP
(Council for Accreditation of Counseling
and Related Educational Programs) Site
Team Member.
Jill Bryant earned her Ph.D. from the
University of Iowa and her M.A. and B.A.
from the University of Northern Iowa.
She is a National Certified Counselor
and serves on the Board for Professional
School Counseling. She is also a CACREP
(Council for Accreditation of Counseling
and Related Educational Programs) Site
Team Member.
Psychology
Melanie Asriel earned her B.S. in
Experimental Psychology and her M.A.
from WKU. Her research interests include
introductory courses, psychology of
Rhonda Talley, Executive Director of
the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education
Complex, is a 1973 WKU graduate.
Dr. Talley also has degrees from
University of Louisville, Indiana University
and Johns Hopkins University.
School of Teacher Education
Kanita DuCloux earned her Ed.S. in
mathematics education from State
University of West Georgia and her
doctorate in mathematics education
from the University of Georgia. Her
research interests include assessment
in mathematics, teacher preparation,
teacher beliefs, and teaching for diversity.
Ellen Fryman earned her M.A. in
Education from Eastern Kentucky
University and her B.A. in Education
from Asbury College. She is a veteran
elementary education teacher of 25 years
and was the 2000 Cater County Teacher
of the Year in Grayson, Kentucky.
Gail Kirby earned her Ed.D. in Learning
and Instruction with an emphasis in
Special Education in 2008 from the
University of San Francisco.
J. Dusteen Knotts earned her Ph.D. from
Southern Illinois University. Her research
interests include inclusion methods,
learning strategies, and cueing higher
order thinking. She has served as the
division coordinator over undergraduate
and graduate programs at Murray
State University, developed the special
education course of study for Trevecca
Nazarene University at the undergraduate
11
Daniel Super is currently completing his
Specialist in Education here at WKU and
has worked closely with the Center for
Literacy and WKU’s outreach for College
Readiness.
Military Science
SFC Gary Keeton has completed the
following assignments: HHT 1-12 Cavalry,
1 Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX; 2nd
Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Infantry Division, Korea; HHT, Special
Troops Battalion, Fort Sam Houston,
TX; 3rd Brigade Reconnaissance Troop,
1st Infantry Division, Germany; HHT,
1st Armor Training Brigade, Fort Knox,
KY; 1-116th Idaho National Guard,
Kirkuk, Iraq; 2nd Squadron 16th Cavalry
Regiment, Fort Knox, KY; and the 1st
Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st
Cavalry Division, in Fort Hood, TX.
CPT Corey Henderson earned his B.S. in
Political Science/Pre-Law from Middle
Tennessee State University in 2007. He
is a candidate in the MBA Healthcare
Administration at Northcentral University
and completed the Marion Military
Institute ROTC in Marion, Alabama, in
2004.
Western Kentucky University
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
1906 College Heights Blvd., #11030
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1030
Please send gifts for the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and its departments to:
WKU Foundation, Attn: Amanda Coates Lich, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd., #11005,
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1005
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Please contact your human resources office for matching gift forms. For information on pledges, multi-year gifts,
stock transfers, or planned gifts, please contact Amanda Coates Lich at (270) 745-7025 or (888) 958-2586.
Western Kentucky University is an equal opportunity institution of higher education and upon request provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. www.wku.edu/eoo © 2011 Western Kentucky University. Printing paid from state funds, KRS 57.375.